Need Advice please 6 week old

IrishConn- your story brought back memories of my DS... what a horrible memory of feeding through out the night every 1 1/2 -2 hours... after putitng up with this for 3 weeks straight i took my DS to the MCHN who suggested supp feeds as soon as i started he started sleeping through out the night but by milk supply started to diminish. He also started throwing up after a bottle and although his weight gains were normal it still didnt seem right to me. I took him to the GP and told him about his symptoms. His fussing at the boob, crying/screaming after like he was hungry, arching his back, pulling off or at the boob, pains like wind i was told were signs of reflux. At the young age my DS wasnt throwing up (but all other signs the same as reflux) and i was told it was called silent reflux which is why it goes undiagnosed. Once i started on the formula the throwing up started which is gastro- osophegul (spl?) reflux.

Not sure if this is the case with your ds but if your worried i'd get him checked out. I was told by a Mid wife to supp feed but this intern made the reflux worse. My DD also now suffers from colic and silent reflux. she cries after feeds, i often see her cough and make choking noises which is the acid and milk coming back up in her mounth and choking her (but not actually being expelled from the mouth) she makes weird faces which is the bad taste of the curdled milk. the pulling at the boob is usually caused by the acid comming back up the osophegus while their laying down feeding. i now have to make DD sit up almost all the was a feed- it looks so awekward but it has help he so much.

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He also sometimes breastfeeds well then other times he is stuggling,squirming and coming on and off the breast I can't figure out why?

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My DD is the same some feeds she's fine and others are a real struggle... if i give her her zantac 15 mins before a feed it stops all the squirming and struggling... it settles the acid so its not burning while she's feeding.

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He also gets really overtired but will not sleep and gets really cranky then

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i wrap my DS up when she's like this i put her hands by her side (makes her cry worse at first) when she's tired she fights the wrap rubbs her face till its red, screams till she's all flushed etc. i find the ristriction of her movement patting on the bottom and slight bounching works, takes a while but eventually after s hort time she'll settle stop fighting and drift off to sleep.. i tired many other things suggested but find when she's so overtired she needs to try to stay still and try to relax... the fussing and fighting does nothing more then increase her irritability and tiredness..

Good luck.

Hi IrishConn
First - big hugs to you! This is a fairly typical phase for all new babies, unfortunately, and it's tough!
My little boy was the same around 6-7 weeks, and again at 10-11 weeks I'm afraid to say, but we learnt so much the first time it was definitely easier then.
Ds also suffered from reflux earlier on, and would do many of the thigns you describe. We found the best thing was to hold him upright or prop him up for at least 20 minutes after feeds. Also trying to sit him more upright during feeds helped. There were many nights that the only way any of us could sleep was if I held him in my arms, sitting upright in bed. The good news is that this has passed for us now, and he is able to sleep lying down.
He also would demand feeds constantly, and this was partly due to a desire to suck to relieve his tummy upset or to settle himself when overtired.
In the end, only you know what is best for your baby - unfortunately it just takes some time for us to feel confident in ourselves as parents.

On bed times, I have found that putting DS to bed earlier has helped him to sleep better & longer (generally). If your baby is getting overtired, I would recommend trying an earlier bed time - the more rested babies are the better they tend to sleep.

Good luck - and sorry to hear that your husband is unwell, I hope his treatment is going well.

Hi Irishcon,

:hug: & congragulations on making it 1/2 way to that magical 12 week mark.
Reading your post brought back very vivid memories of those early days where DS was taking upto an hour to feed at times & all I seemed to do was have my boobs hanging out & rocking a crying baby to sleep. A few things that helped me.

About routines, for some people their bubs fall into a routine easily for others it is not so easy, don't beat yourself up if it just ain't happening, forgot about the routine & just concentrate on what you have to do next.

You mentioned you think your DS may have wind pain, my DS was really hard to burp but I just persisted, it could take upto 5 mins to get a single burp out at times, try lying him on his tummy over your lap or on the floor, try the bicycle move where you move his legs like he is on a bicycle, rocking him back & forwards while he is in a sitting position. I found that I was overfeeding my DS like Cassius2 mentioned, I was basicaly feeding him everytime he cried when he was probably tired but wouldn't sleep on me the little bugger :cryinglaugh: or had wind.

About going to sleep times, I am not sure if you are expecting him to sleep all night & I am just being realistic but from most people I know he won't sleep all night, 3-4 hr stretch is good. My little one still has nights where he wakes every 2 hrs but thankfuly he only takes 5-10 mins to feed now. Sleep when he does (& yes I know that easier said then done)

About being overtired, I always found it hard to know when my DS was tired but basically at his age if you haven't already seen any sleep times you want to put him back to bed after being up for about 40 - 60 mins, 90 mins at the most.

About the choking it sounds like a sign of the let down, as it comes out really fast & they can find it hard to swallow & hits the back of the throat. I wouldn't worry too much my DS still chokes & generally tries to reattach straight away, if it is too bad I sit him up & pat him in the back. So it sounds like you have a good supply.

MOST IMPORTANTLY you sound like you are doing a great job even if it feels like you are on automatic poilot. If you can take some time to just enjoy him, he should be smiling now, cuddle, kiss, sing to him & hold him just for the sake of it not because you are feeding or trying to put him to sleep.
Take things ONE day/sleep/feed at a time. You are learning - as we all are. You are definitely not alone, if you haven't already track down you baby buddies here on the website.

Big :hug: I hope things improve for you soon & I am still fully BF my little bugger 4 mnths down the track & from experience it does honestly get better.

Hi,

I'm sorry to pop in so late - I'm actually at a breastfeeding conference at the moment so am having touble getting to my computer. But, I think it is really important that you see a Lactation Consultant and get this situation assessed and make a plan of action for yourself and your little one-it's too compex to *solve* on a web forum.. You are doing a fabulous job, but it sounds like you are doing it tough! It's no way to start out being a mum. You deserve good support. I will ask around today at the conference and try to find who I can refer you to in NZ and try to get back to you ASAP. In the meantime, maye you could ring the NZ Lactation consultants association or google them. I would suggest that when you have a plan for breastfeeding, many of the other *pieces of the puzzle* will fall into place
Regards
Barb